Wheelchairs and other devices

4/16/2016

One of the issues that mothers raised during our group sessions was the need for assistive devices. In most cases children who need devices such as wheelchairs and walking braces receive these for free from the South African government. The process however to get such a device is tiringly bureaucratic, vague and long, which sometimes results in wasted opportunities. Others have been able to get a wheelchair from government but face another issue after a few years. The child grows and doesn’t fit properly in the chair. Though the opportunity exists for them to get the device adjusted at a certain hospital, more often than not mothers do net get this done. When asked why, the complexity of their daily realities becomes visible.

For one, the wheelchair needs to be taken along to the hospital. This poses the first problem as wheelchairs are generally not accepted in public transport buses, due to impatience of taxi drivers. This means that they either have to hire a taxi, or they have to take somebody along who can assist with loading the wheelchair into the bus. This raises the second issue which is financial resources. A lack of sufficient income prevents most mothers to hire a car. Moreover, as the child also needs to be taken along to the hospital, having a chaperon in public transport means a quadrupled taxi fare; i.e. for themselves, their child, their chaperon and for the wheelchair itself. In these difficult circumstances it is no surprise mothers choose to not get the device adjusted. This results however in mothers retreating into their home due to a lack of mobility as well as physical issues for mothers as they carry the child on their back despite their weight.

Although mothers in Khayelitsha are focusing on setting up income generating activities, they hope to be able to raise donations in exchange for their sewing products to accommodate all children in their group with the needed devices. And also to assist each other financially with getting the available devices adjusted.

6 Comments

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11/22/2016 06:01:03 pm

Perhaps, the process of acquiring the wheelchairs for those who need them should be reviewed. Then make the necessary changes. The process should be faster for there are a lot of people that badly need those assistive devices. It must be so frustrating for the children and for their mothers to go through all those difficulties. But it's a good thing that these mothers are doing everything they can to raise funds. There may only be a few of them but their commitment to the cause more than makes up for the smallness of their number.

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8/29/2017 06:47:40 pm

I remember how my grandmother used to have this when she was still alive before. We use it every morning for her to see the sunrise and feel the morning air. I love how it makes her feel happy and fresh. Every time I see her wheelchair right now, I can't help myself from missing her. I wish she was still able to see me graduate and have my own family. I do love her so much.

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10/4/2017 01:45:20 am

We need to help those people who are in need. If we believe that we are capable of extending our helping hands to those who need it the most, let's do it. We may not realize the importance of these devices because we are not using it, but wheelchairs have been a big help to patients who are have been using it to get through with their respective conditions. I believe that there should be fund raising activities for this!

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10/18/2017 05:15:21 pm

Thanks for sharing this post with us.

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10/18/2017 05:59:06 pm

All of these devices are useful somehow.

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1/22/2018 01:16:46 pm

Let us take this consideration into action. These mothers did not choose to become person with disability, so, the public utility vehicles must not also choose who are their passenger. It really discriminates the mothers and hurts their feelings, then eventually, loss their motivation to live. My opinion for the government, their project was good for providing free wheelchairs for them. Moreover, they must create a new project which will cater the person with disability to transport where they need to go. Let us help them live convenient despite being disabled.

Wheelchairs and other devices

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